Josiah



(No Model.)

J. G. BENNETT.

' SHOE.

f No. 255,133'.

Pan'lted Mar. 21, 1882'.

N. PETERS. Phnmumegmpher. wnshingtm (1C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT EEtcEC.

JOSIAH U. BENNETT, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming pere of Lettere Patent Ne. 255,133, dated Mereh 21, 1882.

(No model.) e"

To all Lr/torn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosiAI-r C. BENNETT, ot' Lynn, county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoes, of which the following descriptiomin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication.

This invention in shoes has for its object the production of a fleXible-soled shoe in which the toe of the upper is held out or distended by the toe ofthe inner sole, so that the stitching uniting theltoe ofthe upper with the outer sole will not show. To keep the toe of the upper smooth and uniform and conceal the stitches uniting the toe of the upper with the inner sole, the edges ofthe upper at the toe must be turned under the inner sole.

My inventionconsists in a shoe having an outer sole and upper, andan inner sole which is cut away from each side of the end of the toe part, back along the ball of thefoot, nearly to or beyond the shank, whereby the stitches uniting the outer sole and upper are made across the toe ot' the inner sole and about the heel ot' the inner sole, butJ may be made to run oil or miss the inner sole along the ball thereof', and more orless intothe shank, the stitches which penetrate the toe of the inner sole holding the latter lirmly in place, with its end beyond the stitches extended against the inner side ot' and so as to keep the toe ofthe upper extended and not expose the stitches, while along the sides ot the shoe where the inner solel is not penetrated and secured by the said stitches the inner sole and outer sole being disconnected insures greater flexibility' and ease in walking, which is very desirable.

Figure l represents in top view an inner sole eut in accordance with my invention, the dotted lines showing the sides ofthe said sole as cut away intothc shank,asit may be, if desired; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section ofv my improved shoe with the inner sole stitched therein.

The upper a of the shoe and outer sole, b, are and may be of any usual shape. The inner sole, c, made of a length from heel to toe to till the shoe and come against the toeof the upper, as shown in Fig. 2, has its sides cut away at c2 back to the points 3 ,just in front of the shank of thel inner sole; butin some eases, when it is desired to make the shoe very exible, the sides ofthe sole maybe cut away on the dotted lines d into the shank. Cutting the sole in this way leaves au upper bracingprojection, f, extended beyond the corners 5 6. The stitches g, to unite the upper and outer sole, extend through the toe of the inner sole on the dotted line g2. These stitches also penetrate the inner sole about its heel part, and also through the edge ofthe inner sole, along the shank at the rear of the corners 3 4, provided the shank is not cut away on the dotted lines l e, the said stitches then falling in the said dotted lines; but along the ball of the inner sole the stitches g do not touch theinner sole, but are made just outside its edges, so that the sides ot' the inner sole between the points 3 5 and 4 6 are not stitched fast into thev shoe. A sole of this kind is very elastic, and bends readily to the foot.A

I do not broadly claim a shoe in which the stitches are run olf the inner sole about its sides; but in said shoes the toe ot the innersole has liever been left full t0 keep the toe ofthe upper distended and prevent the stitches g about the toe showing, as is the case when the toe of the inner sole is shortened and the stitches run oft' it to afford protection for shoes such as worn by children.

I claim- The herein-described shoe, composed of the upper and outer sole and the inner sole, c, stitched to the upper and outer sole about its toe and heel, but cut away'at its sides and not connected with the upper and outer sole along the sides ot' the inner sole, all substantially as described, whereby the toe of the inner sole, the sides of which at the ball ot the foot are not connected with the outer sole by stitches, is made available to keep the toc ofthe upper distcnded, substantially as described.

In testimony whereot'l have signed my name to this speeitication in the presence ot' twosubseribing witnesses.

JOSIAH C. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. H. SrGsToN. 

